Phil Nevin Named SeaWolves Manager
Phil Nevin, a 12-year major league veteran, has been tabbed as the new manager of the Erie SeaWolves. He is the 13th manager in SeaWolves history.
The 38-year old Nevin, who managed the Orange County Flyers (IND-Golden Baseball League) in 2009, will be in his first managerial post in affiliated baseball in 20l0.
Nevin, a Fullerton, CA native, is a former first round selection of the Houston Astros in the 1992 June Draft. His major league career included stints with Houston, Anaheim, Chicago (NL), Minnesota, Texas, Detroit and San Diego. In 2001, he was an All-Star with the Padres.
Glenn Adams returns to the 'Wolves for a fourth consecutive season and will serve as hitting coach while Ray Burris returns for his third season as the team's pitching coach. Chris McDonald also returns as the team's Athletic Trainer for the fifth consecutive season.
FIELD STAFF BIOS
PHIL NEVIN - MANAGER
Phil Nevin takes over the reins as Erie manager for 2010. He is the 13th manager in club history.
Nevin managed the Orange County Flyers (IND) in 2009 and his post with the SeaWolves will be his first managerial job in affiliated baseball.
Nevin played his college ball at Cal State Fullerton where he was the recipient of the 1992 Golden Spikes Award which is given annually to the best amateur baseball player. He was also the Most Outstanding Player of the 1992 College World Series.
He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 1992 June Draft and made his major league debut on June 11, 1995. He spent 12 seasons in the major leagues including three seasons with the Tigers from 1995-97.
Other stops in his career include San Diego (seven seasons), Texas (two seasons) and one-year stints with Minnesota, Anaheim, Chicago (NL) and Houston.
He was an All-Star in 2001 with the Padres and put up the best numbers of his career that season with a .306 batting average, 41 home runs and 126 RBI.
Nevin's playing career ended following the 2006 season. He finished his career with a .270 average, 208 home runs and 743 RBI.
Nevin currently resides in Fullerton, CA with his wife Kristin and three children, Kyle, Tyler and Koral.
GLENN ADAMS - HITTING COACH
Glenn Adams returns to the SeaWolves for a fourth season as the club's hitting coach in 2010. It is also Adams fourth season in the Tigers organization.
Prior to joining Detroit, Adams spent six seasons with the Seattle Mariners organization where he served as the minor league hitting coordinator.
Adams was the recipient of the 2008 Dwight Lowry Award (Player Development Man of the Year in the Tigers organization).
His coaching career began in 1986 when he managed the Kinston Indians (Cleveland Indians Class-A Affiliate, Carolina League). He led the K-Tribe to a Carolina League championship in his final season (1988).
In 1989, Adams moved to the Minnesota Twins organizaton where he served as a minor league hitting instructor for six seasons.
From 1995-2000 he was the hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs.
Adams was selected in the first round of the 1968 June Draft by the Houston Astros. He spent six seasons in the minors and his .352 batting average with Phoenix in 1974 was tops in the Pacific Coast League.
He spent eight seasons in the big leagues with San Francisco (1975-76), Minnesota (1977-81) and Toronto (1982).
Adams is still tied for the Twins single-game RBI record with eight which was set on June 26, 1977 against the Chicago White Sox.
RAY BURRIS - PITCHING COACH
The 2010 season will be the third for Ray Burris with the SeaWolves and his fifth in the Tigers organization. Burris spent the 2005 season with Class-A Oneonta and 2006 with Class-A West Michigan.
Burris served as a minor league pitching coach for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1988-89 before joining the club's Major League staff as a bullpen coach for two seasons (1990-91). Additionally, he worked as a roving instructor, special assistant to the General Manager, advance scout and community development employee for the Brewers. In 1992, Burris joined the Texas Rangers as an assistant pitching coach before moving to the front office for three years (1993-1995) as the Rangers special assistant for community development and special projects and as assistant to the vice president of community development.
Burris' most recent coaching assignment before joining the Tigers organization was as a roving pitching instructor with the St. Louis Cardinals for two seasons (2000-01).
A veteran of 15 seasons at the major league level, Burris saw action with the Chicago Cubs (1973-79), New York Yankees (1979), New York Mets (1979-1980), Montreal Exops (1981-83), Oakland Athletics (1984), Milwaukee Brewers (1985, 1987) and St. Louis Cardinals (1986).
CHRIS MCDONALD - ATHLETIC TRAINER
Chris McDonald enters his 10th season as an athletic trainer in the Tigers organization and his fifth with the SeaWolves. Before joining the 'Wolves, McDonald spent three seasons with Class-A Lakeland.
The Troy, Michigan native graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2000 with a bachelor's of science in education after majoring in sport management with an emphasis in athletic training.
Chris resides in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic during the off-season while working for the Licey Baseball Club of the Dominican Winter League.